Civil Engineering May 2021 | Vol 29 No 4

Civil Engineering May 2021 45 Water stress can jeopardise business models According to Gert Nel, partner and principal hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting, responsible water manage- ment is becoming a cornerstone of any sustainable business model – with inves- tors starting to look more critically at how water risks are mitigated. Signing of a contract with a public service provider does not guarantee water supply if all available traditional sources simply run out, as has been dem- onstrated in cities like Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Groundwater remains the most readily accessible resource to businesses, provided it is used and managed in strict accordance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) best practice. This means early-stage scientific inves- tigations into the viability of boreholes, as well as careful adherence to the regulatory framework. To ensure the integrity of the business model, developers generally require the involvement of a professional groundwater specialist to investigate and highlight the groundwater development potential of the town, city, or area in which the operation will be established. These studies will also include a consideration of the number of existing groundwater users in the immediate area, and their respective water uses. Legal compliance requires early planning to accommodate the potentially lengthy permitting period. Boreholes require a water use license, which can take up to two years to approve. Having the necessary license in place gives a business the ability to start drilling and preparing the necessary infrastruc- ture for self-supply of water in case of a drought. Nel reiterates the importance of considering ESG impacts related to the drilling of boreholes, and the crucial need to follow due process. “If you drill boreholes to provide a supplementary or sole supply to your business, and you don’t follow scientific, environmental and social due processes, you could face public resistance. Surrounding borehole users could well accuse you of depleting their groundwater, or even causing the failure of their businesses due to their only water supply source drying up. “Irrespective of the specific environ- mental and social context of the business, it is wise to engage experienced scientists and engineers in preparing a water solu- tion for a sustainable business plan. The regulatory, social and physical landscape is complex, and there are a number of pitfalls that a responsible business would do well to avoid,” concludes Nel.  Bargaining council promises better conditions for civils employees Although registration with a bargaining council is compulsory, company registra- tion offers benefits to both the employers and employees. “Being part of the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI) makes a company an active par- ticipant in a more stable and sustainable sector. This is mainly because the BCCEI facilitates collective bargaining on wages and general terms of employment, helping employers and labour to arrive at a fair outcome for all,” explains Lindie Fourie, operations manager at BCCEI. She argues that the result of collective bargaining is invariably of benefit to both employers, many of whom do not have the resources to deal with long-term negotiations, and employees, who may not be sufficiently organised at plant or company level to present their demands. A fairer outcome for all also ensures that the general working environment is less disrupted, and the necessary energy and resources can be applied where required. There are also certain minimum allowances to which employees are entitled, which are part of the condi- tions of employment applicable to the whole civil engineering sector. In many instances, employers and employees are not aware of these. According to Fourie, being registered with the BCCEI assists both employers and employees in understanding what conditions are applicable to them. An ex- ample would be where the BCCEI requires businesses to belong to the Construction Industry Retirement Benefit Fund. Many smaller companies do not make any retirement provisions for their staff, but the BCCEI ensures that they attend to this vital aspect of employee well-being. “Companies must also have a minimum funeral benefit in place for their em- ployees,” she says. “Where business owners don’t have such schemes, there is an industry retirement benefit fund, medical aid and funeral benefits, although these are not administered by the BCCEI.”  Lindie Fourie, operations manager at BCCEI Groundwater offers a readily accessible water resource to businesses